runfromthepopo!

"A major caution before we begin. Forensic scientists work in the justice system. If you have a criminal record, you have virtually no chance of getting a job as a forensic scientist. If you use drugs (and in Miami, even tobacco) you usually can forget it. Life ain't fair! There are lots of good jobs that overlook youthful indiscretions but the justice system does not. "

Any truth to this? I know most jobs would not appreciate a worker smoking weed, but this seems like if anyone found out your career would be completely over. I am interested in pursuing a career in forensic science.

rich420

Where did you get this quote from?

runfromthepopo!

I just exited the site, but it was a guy who said he had a lot of experience in the field and had worked in some type of forensic science for many years. I'm not sure if he's right though, thats what im wondering.

Andrew87

Depending on the extent of your drug use and past criminal activity, you may still be able to be a forensic scientist. However, that means you have to stop committing all crimes (including smoking weed) NOW.

In most agencies I am familiar with, a forensic scientist is not sworn, which means the standards aren't quite as high as those to become a police officer or special agent, but they do require that you aren't or weren't a serious criminal, either. A few misdemeanors as a teenager could probably be mitigated with 5-10 years of staying completely out of trouble, but if you committed any major crimes then you can probably forget it. Check with recruiters of the agencies you'd like to work for (you can e-mail them) as to what their hiring standards are, because they will vary from place to place. Most that I've seen will want to be drug free for at least 3-5 years prior and not have any criminal charges for the past 5+.

Keep in mind however, that being a forensic scientist is not like what you see on CSI. Alot of people get into that field only to realize that it isn't what they expected later on. Are you in school now for forensic science? I'd recommend seeing if you could get an internship at a crime lab somewhere to see if it's really something you'd enjoy.

If you have any questions feel free to PM me, I'm actually trying to become a cop after I get out of the military and have a past record/drug use, so I've done quite a bit of research into hiring practices in the criminal justice field.

__________________
The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants. -- Albert Camus

runfromthepopo!

Thanks Andrew.
I have no criminal record, and I am not in school for it yet. But i do smoke, so I was just thinking nobody i work with would have to find out

Andrew87

Even still, I'd recommend against continuing to commit crimes if you want to work in forensics. People applying for police/police-related jobs undergo a thorough background investigation - far beyond a normal records check - and in some places will have to take a polygraph. At the end of the day, I'd say you're going to have to make a choice between using marijuana and a career in forensics.

Kiefer Suthrlnd

For forensics, stop before you go into college. Most public sector forensic job apps I have seen ask about marijuana use in either the past 4 years or past 2 years.

Private labs are a different story. If they ask you, you can just lie and if you pass any drug test they give you, you are golden. I know a girl that does parental dna testing. She's brilliant, but outside of work is the biggest stoner.

I have friends that are police officers. They simply just lied on the polygraph. Some were even heavy off topic users and I've seen them stay up all night on binges. The line "I tried it in high school but didn't like it" seems to work. People I know who have told the truth get denied because they told it. If enough time has passed / you bettered yourself its for your benefit to tell the truth about past drug use.

__________________
"focus on what i invest in; got married to marijuana, yea, and the connect is my best man" -jadakiss

[MOD NOTE: Discussion of drugs other than marijuana by them selves (without marijuana) is against the posting guidelines.]

Andrew87

The initial application is one thing, the background investigation is another. They ask you 'have you used drugs in the past 3,4,5 years' because answering in the affirmative will send your application to the shredder - answering 'no' means that you will be considered and your past substance use history will be analyzed in depth in the background phase. Read some of the personal history questionnaires that police applicants are required to fill out - they ask about essentially everything you could have done wrong in your entire life.

Although polygraphs aren't 100% accurate, it's pretty uncommon for them to be "beat." It's much easier to just not commit crimes and be able to answer the questions truthfully. Integrity is key in law enforcement.

And lots of people who lie end up getting caught and disqualified for life. Not necessarily because of what they lied about, but because they lied.

Is smoking weed worth ruining any potential opportunity of your career field of choice? If you really want to work in C.J., that's a question you'll have to ask yourself.

Kiefer Suthrlnd

This isn't necessarily true for forensics jobs in the labs like he asked about.

Yes there are forensics experts on police forces, but forensic scientists are held to different standards.

Andrew87

Not everywhere, no. In some places the hiring process will be nearly identical to that of a police officer, however.

The non-sworn positions tend to have slightly more relaxed standards, but that's not to say the background investigation is any less thorough.